Donald “Don” Colliver has been involved in the energy usage and efficiency of buildings for over 40 years. He is Professor in the Biosystems Engineering Department, and formerly Director of Graduate Studies in the BAE Department and Director of the Kentucky Industrial Assessment Center at the University of Kentucky. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Professionally Don has conducted and managed extensive research in energy usage in buildings and industrial facilities, solar energy, air infiltration and ventilation, building codes, and the analysis of climatological data for determination of design weather conditions. His team developed the first dehumidification design weather data that was published in the 1997 ASHRAE Handbook – Fundamentals.
Don has lectured in 20 countries with his teaching emphasis in solar PV systems design; indoor environmental control; industrial energy auditing; building energy modeling and analysis; decarbonization; and sustainable design.
He was the ASHRAE Society President in 2002-2003. As a result of his initiatives and leadership, ASHRAE launched the Advanced Energy Design Guides - a series of publications that provide guidance on designing and constructing buildings that lead toward net-zero-energy buildings. He served as the leader of this project for ten years during which time ten books were produced which now have over 700,000 copies distributed.
Prior to his service as ASHRAE President he served as Society President-Elect, Treasurer, Vice President, Director-at-Large, and Chair of Technology Council, Education Council and the Standards Committee. He has subsequently served as Chair of the ASHRAE Honors and Awards Committee, the National Engineers Week, and Vice Chair of the ASHRAE Foundation. He is an ASHRAE Fellow and recipient of the Andrew T. Boggs Service Award.
He served as Director of the KY Industrial Assessment Center from 2014-2021 and participated in over 80 energy assessments in industrial facilities that have resulted in implemented recommendations that save on average $110,000 per year per plant. In November 2019 he designed and installed a ground-mounted 10.2kW solar photovoltaic system for his house which has resulted in a maximum monthly electric bill of $19 since then.
Don was chosen to be the initial Co-Chair of the ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization and currently serves as Vice Chair.
He was awarded a doctorate from Purdue University; and is a hiker, viticulturist, and a retired soccer referee. He has been an active member of the Central Baptist Church in Lexington Kentucky for over 40 years where he has served as Deacon and Moderator. His love and pride are his wife, two sons and daughter-in-laws, and five grandchildren.
Foundation and Pillars of Building Decarbonization
This lecture will give a more in-depth perspective of the issues and potential methods to be used to achieve the net-zero emissions by 2050. Items to be discussed include: the principles of building decarbonization; descriptions of the major pillars to achieving global building sector net-zero emissions; and the challenges and opportunities for building decarbonization
Building Decarbonization Basics
This lecture will present the basics of building decarbonization. Items to be discussed include: the driving forces for decarbonization; buildings’ contribution to carbon emissions; key descriptive parameters; pillars and potential for reduction of carbon emissions related to buildings; and key issues related to achieving zero carbon emissions.
The Science Behind Climate Change and Decarbonization
This lecture will give the basic scientific information gathered from international bodies related to the causes and effects of climate change. Information will be presented related to the impact of climate change; overall sources of CO2eq; the goals of decarbonization from the building sector; and an introduction in to why decarbonization of buildings is important.
Decarbonization – Medicine for Earth’s Fever
The earth’s temperature has increased more in the author’s lifetime than it increased from the time of the Greek Parthenon was being used until his birth. Our planet has a fever. The case for humans causing this warming is strong. Examples of the impacts from this warming that are significant to human systems are presented. Buildings and construction are heavyweights when it comes to impacting climate change. An overview of several groups of possible high-level solutions are presented so the built environment can serve as a medicine for earth’s fever.
Decarb 101
This lecture was developed by the ASHRAE Task Force for Decarbonization. It can be used as an introduction to the topic of building decarbonization. Topics covered include: The importance of building decarbonization and why it is critical to take action, what is meant by building decarbonization and a description of major terms used, understanding the global issue, embodied and operational carbon, items to consider to decarbonize buildings, and challenges and opportunities.
Whole Life Carbon – Issues and Guidance
This lecture provides background and practical guidance for those associated with the built environment to understand and reduce the whole life GHG emissions and other environmental impacts of MEP systems. Definitions of systems covered, life cycle stages, assessment methodologies, and associated terms are included. This guide defines the roles and responsibilities for setting climate goals, designing MEP systems, operating MEP systems, and maintaining MEP systems to reduce whole life GHG emissions and environmental impacts. The lecture is based upon the recently released ASHRAE Technical Whole Life Carbon Guide.
Myths and Questions About Building Decarbonization
This lecture will discuss several of the myths and questions about decarbonizing the built environment. It is intended as an overview of some of the misconceptions of building decarbonization and to address answers to frequently asked questions of many practitioners that don’t have a good background on who, why, when, and how to decarbonize buildings.
The Building Decarbonization Game
This interactive learning game incorporates elements of two popular TV game shows: Jeopardy and Family Feud. The definitions of building decarbonization measures and practices will be presented in a PowerPoint presentation one at a time. Audience members will be given a scorecard with the measure and practice names where they will match the definitions to the proper names. After all the names are matched, the correct answers will be shared and scored. The audience members will then rank the measures and practices in each of ten categories based on relative importance.
